Tim Jacks: The Gilbert pediatrician writes to the parent of the unvaccinated child who exposed his family to measles.

Note: After Gilbert pediatrician Tim Jacks' immunocompromised daughter and infant son were possibly exposed to measles in Mesa on Jan. 21, he published the following open letter to parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. The post, shared more than 870,000 times on Facebook alone, has drawn national attention to the family's story as the debate about whether to vaccinate marches on.

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To the parent of the unvaccinated child who exposed my family to measles,

I have a number of strong feelings surging through my body right now. Towardmy family, I am feeling extra protective like a papa bear. Toward you, unvaccinating parent, I feel anger and frustration at your choices.

By now we've all heard of the measles outbreak that originated in Disneyland. Or more accurately, originated from an unvaccinated person that infected other similarly minded vacationers. I won't get into a debate about the whole anti-vaccine movement, the thimerisol controversy (no longer even used in childhood vaccines), or the myth that MMR causes autism (there are changes in autistic brain chemistry prior to birth).

Let's talk measles for just a minute. It once was widespread in the U.S. It is now considered "eliminated" in the U.S. (not continually circulating in the population - only contracted through travel out of country). Measles is highly contagious (more than 90 percent infectious), can survive airborne in a room and infect someone two hours later.

Another fun fact is that measles is transmittable before it can be diagnosed - four days before the characteristic rash appears. "Measles itself is unpleasant, but the complications are dangerous. Six to 20 percent of the people who get the disease will get an ear infection, diarrhea or even pneumonia. One out of 1,000 people with measles will develop inflammation of the brain, and about one out of 1,000 will die."

That sounds fun!

OK.

Calm down, self.

I assume you love your child just like I love mine. I assume that you are trying to make good choices regarding their care. Please realize that your child does not live in a bubble. When your child gets sick, other children are exposed. My children. Why would you knowingly expose anyone to your sick, unvaccinated child after recently visiting Disneyland? That was a bone-headed move.

Why does this affect me and mine? Why is my family at risk if we are vaccinating? I'm glad you asked.

Regarding measles, there are four groups of people.

All are represented in my family.

First, the MMR vaccine results in immunity for most who receive it. Two doses provides protection that can be confirmed with blood titers. My wife is in this group.

Second, about 3 percent of fully vaccinated children do not develop a lasting immune response. They have low blood titers and are not protected against measles. If exposed, this group will likely get the illness. I am in this group. I was thankfully not exposed.

Third, we have the unvaccinated. My son, Eli, is 10 months old. He is too young to receive the MMR vaccine and thus has no protection. Whether by refusal or because they are too young, exposed unvaccinated children have a 90 percent chance of getting measles.

Fourth, there are children like my Maggie. These are children who can't be vaccinated. Children who have cancer. Children who are immunocompromised. Children who are truly allergic to a vaccine or part of a vaccine (i.e., anaphylaxis to egg). These children remain at risk. They cannot be protected ... except by vaccinating people around them.

Back to my story ...

It was Wednesday. Maggie had just been discharged from Phoenix Children's Hospital after finishing her latest round of chemotherapy. That afternoon she went to the PCH East Valley Specialty Clinic for a lab draw. Everything went fine, and we were feeling good ... until Sunday evening when we got the call.

On Wednesday afternoon, Anna, Maggie and Eli had been exposed to measles by another patient. Our two kids lacked the immunity to defend against measles. The only protection available was multiple shots of rubeola immune globulin (measles antibodies). There were three shots for Maggie and two shots for Eli.

They screamed, but they now have some temporary protection against measles. We pray it is enough.

Unvaccinating parent, thanks for screwing up our three-week "vacation" from chemotherapy. Instead of a break, we get to watch for measles symptoms and pray for no fevers (or back to the hospital we go). Thanks for making us cancel our trip to the snow this year. Maggie really wanted to see snow, but we will not risk exposing anyone else.

On that note, thanks for exposing 195 children to an illness considered "eliminated" from the U.S. Your poor choices don't just affect your child. They affect my family and many more like us.

Please forgive my sarcasm. I am upset and just a little bit scared.

Papa bear

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PCH has been great though this whole ordeal. We have done what is physically possible to protect our children. Now we pray. Please pray alongside us.

We are not currently contagious. Rest assured, if measles visits our house, it will not spread to anyone else.